No matter how carefully you groom your spaniel, sooner or later he or she is going to get fleas or ticks. Fleas spread either from other dogs or cats or from carpets (even if they are not your carpets... remember fleas can JUMP !)

Ticks are usually found in long grass or on trees and get onto your pet by dropping onto the animal and scampering on to an exposed area of skin.
The first time I found my puppies had Ticks was when I found a tiny tick crawling across the back of my neck !
I soon found a few more attacking my little spaniels.

For years I tried many sprays and powders and I discovered FRONTLINE - a liquid spray that you lightly spray on to the dog (avoiding the eyes and mouth and ears though)
This comes either in a larger dispenser or in sealed blister packs each of a single dose. Do Not overdose - read the instructions first.
To use the blister packs is simplicity itself.
You simple break off a small corner of the pack ,part the dogs fur just at the nape of the neck (there is an illustration that shows where to squeeze the green liguid onto.
Its fairly important to keep your pets separate to prevent them from licking the fluid off each other.
I found my spaniels went a bit dozy for a couple of hours after the application but they soon cheered up after that.
You only have to make one application per dog and this seems to be active for the whole of the tick season.
We seem to have had a huge increase in ticks this year and I think this is due to climate change.
Frontline seems to kill fleas outright and acts as a systemic cure that discourages ticks and other bugs.
Tiny Ticks just curl up and die and bigger ones (I have not seen one since applyig Frontline) are alleged to be easier to remove.

Ticks just fall off when spray with Frontline and you should collect them on a piece of card or in a plastic container and dispose of them. I tend to kill them to prevent their return.

The really unpleasant thing about ticks is that they have a sort of beak that digs into the dogs skin and if you try to pull them off the head can get lodged under the skin causing a nasty infection.

I thoroughly recommend Frontline to you -it's available from your Vet or by mail order I thoroughly reccommend the new version where you just put one drop on your pet's skin and this is sufficient to protect him or her from fleas and ticks for quite a long while.)

It certainly beats twisting off those nasty little (and sometimes not so litle) ticks !

Ticks can spread diseases including Lyme Disease so always spread an antiseptic cream on the area where a tick has bitten your dog.

My VERDICT : ***** 5 Stars

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Post from: spanielcare.com

Young Blue Roan English Cocker Spaniel

Most People do not realise that dog dental care is just as important for dogs as it is for human beings.
You go for a check-up every 6 months but your poor spaniel has to wait until it hurts.
Just like you,your spaniel has teeth that can gather plaque after eating. When this plaque builds up and hardens it becomes a coarse brown substance called tartar.This usually starts at the edge of the gums and grows down the teeth.

When tartar accumulates it can work its way under the gums and cause painful infections and gum disease. This goes on in the mouths of dogs just like it does in people. You brush your teeth every day, probably three times. What does your dog do?
How often do you clean your spaniels teeth ?

How to brush your pets teeth.
Veterinarians recommend that dog owners brush Spaniels teeth at least twice a week to keep the buildup of tartar at a minimum. Most pet supply stores carry specially designed toothbrushes and toothpaste just for dogs.
You can of course use a regular medium grade tothbrush and doggy toothpaste (but keep it in a separate place so you do not
mix it up with your own toothpaste ...)

Spaniels have a highly evolved sense of taste and smell which is far more acute than that of a human and the yummy minty taste that we love on toothpaste will taste truly awful to a Spaniel.If you were to try clean a Spaniels teeth with a common human toothpaste like colgate (excellent for humans) could be the last time you get a toothbrush anywhere near him/her.They really find it distasteful.A Spaniel has over 100 times as many taste and smell buds and receptors as we do.Imagine smelling everything 100 times as strongly and you will get the idea.
Use a specially designed dog toothpaste.

Dental Chews
If you do not have time to clean your pets teeth on a regular basis then dog chews can really help. . Spaniels have anatural tendency to chew and this is in fact a built-in dental care mechanism.
Dog biscuits break into small chunks when chewed and rub against the teeth, providing a cleaning service. This is not really a good substitute for cleaning your Pets teeth with a toothbrush but it is better than nothing.
There are now several brands of Dog chews that have a slight abrasive action and these usuallly work better than dog biscuits..

Does Your Spaniel have a mouth disease ?

Mouth diseases have several causes :
1: sugary foods (your pet loves them but they are NOT good for himm/her) These willl eventually cause tooth decay.
2: lack of foods that will also clean doggy teeth.
This can produce Gingivitus (an inflammation of gums leading to swollen gums that are inflamed)
This can also lead to a bacterial infection that can seriously damage your Spaniels health

Your Veterinery Surgeon and Dentistry.
In the unlikely event that your dog has to have dental treatment,most vets will anaesthetise your pet.
Dogs do not usually realise what is happening and the vet will not want to get bitten !
Anaesthesia is usually safe but there is a very small risk that your pet may not awaken again if the vet does ot properly monitor your spaniel and his/her vital signs..
It is far easier and safer for your pet if you properly look after his.her teeth properly

Spaniel teeth can be filled, capped, and even extracted if necessary, just like human teeth. The best course of action, however, is to avoid the need for such services by properly caring for the teeth of your Spaniel.. You can avoid unnecessary pain and discomfort for your furry friend and you should do so. Spaniel dental care can be very costly (possibly more than Human Dental Care.). .

Post from: spanielcare.com

This is partly due to their very active lifestyle - they're used to retrieving for shooting and have absolutely no hesitation in dashing into the thickest undergrowth. This is fine when they are young and active dogs but as they get older time begins to take its toll. Even dogs not used in sport will have the same tendency to dash off into undergrowth in search of an interesting smell.
(I think my own spaniels definitely live in an alternative world which is largely composed of interesting smells of greater importance than anything else)

Fortunately Science has come up with a solution that at least alleviates Arthritis and cuts down the swelling of joints.

It's called Glucosamine and while it may be available from your veterinary surgeon, it's also available from a number of mail order companies. If you find the treatment too expensive, you might want to consider purchasing the same product by mail order from a USA or Canadian source.
One of the causes of Spaniel Arthritis is obesity which puts too much strain on the joints.
A healtyhy diet for your spaniel will probably help alleviate the condition.

I would advise you to consult your vet before beginning any such treatment as he/she wil be able to advise you on the correct dosage.

Glucosamine has been successful in treating thousands of cases and this is kinder than leaving your pet in discomfort with Spaniel Arthritis.
Its easy to use but you MUST give the correct dosage to your spaniel.

Post from: spanielcare.com

Morbidly Obese:
Ribs not visible at all.
Waistline appears convex rather than the concave shape
expected in a healthy dog.
There may be fat deposits on the chest and/or neck.
This condition will definitely shorten the life of your pet.

If Your dog fits into either of these categories then you need
to take action today !.
Consult your vet for a slimming diet.
Cut out all snacks and fattening treats.
Although most people feed table scraps to their dog, this is not good for a dog nutritionionally speaking
and is not generally recommended, at least not to excess.
Dogs are foraging creatures and wild dogs mainly eat meat.
Dogs will get ample correct nutrition from their natural, normal diet.
Current thinking among Vets is that the healthiest dog food is the all-in -one dry dog food.
This must be accompanied by copious amounts of water (see the pack for details).
Dried Dog food consists of an appropriate mix of  carbohydrates,nutrients, and proteins,
 with the appropriate mix to provide all of the minerals and vitamins that they need.
This dry mix is generally known as Kibble.

 The balanced diet for a carnivorous dog is not the same as that for a human being.
Table scraps usually include fat rather than meat protein,
Fat has a similar effect on dogs as it does to humans.
Dogs will eat all the table scraps they can get as these are usually tastier than dog food.

Obesity is one end result from overfeeding and this often also leads to Diabetes.
This can produce similar health problems for dogs just as in humans.
 
There are common cardiac and arterial consequences of obesity but dogs are less vulnerable generally to these than humans.

If you want to give your dogs table scraps as a treat then mix them in with their regular food.Never feed dogs from the table directly.They will assume they can help themselves.

Here are some suggested Treats.
Never give scraps from the table or the dog will think they can reach up to the table and get their own treats - your dinner !
Ice Cream can make dogs sick if they are overweight..
 It is common for dogs to  eat poo. Some consume their own or other dogs poo.
Others  prefer cat poo (which, due to the feline digestive system, are high in protein and consumed by many animals in the wild),
 and some may even raid a kitty litter box for a snack.
 This can be unsafe for the dog's health if the animal producing the poo has  diseases or parasites
or has recently ingested drugs that might be poisonous.
Horse poo seems particularly yummy for dogs.

To avoid Spaniel obesity make sure your dog does not have access to fatty foods.
Exercise will reduce this risk - dogs need lots of exercise and a good run every day is essential.
Here is a helpful cheap book from Amazon that will help reduce Spaniel Obesity:

Editorial Review
Arden Moore serves up a plateful of tips on how readers can slim their food-loving dogs.
 Dog owners will discover easy and effective exercise to turn slow-moving waddles into energetic strides.

From the Inside Flap
Dogs love food--in their bowls, on the floor, or off your plate.
Yet a combination of too much food and too little exercise can create a recipe for disaster for your pup.
This helpful guide details the dos and donts of doggy diets and offers tips on slimming
 your dog by controlling food portions and making exercise fun.
 With the practical suggestions provided in this book, you can transform your couch pet-tato  into a fit and happy canine.

Post from: spanielcare.com